School Songs

UTEP has a variety of official and unofficial songs. Some were borrowed from UT-Austin or adapted from popular music; others were written by students and faculty in an effort to capture UTEP's unique essence.

Official Songs

"The Eyes of Texas" (Alma Mater 1920)

"The Eyes of Texas" is the official song of the University of Texas at Austin and considered by some as an unofficial state song. It was first sung at a minstrel show to benefit the university track team on May 12, 1903, and in 2003, after an unanticipated copyright battle, the Board of Regents of the University of Texas reaffirmed "The Eyes of Texas" as the university's official song.

The students of Texas College of Mines adopted the song as its alma mater in 1920. The lyrics are sung to the tune of "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad."

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,All the live long day.The Eyes of Texas are upon you,You cannot get away.Do not think you can escape themAt night or early in the morn-The Eyes of Texas are upon youTill Gabriel blows his horn.

"Men O' Mines" (1932; Alma Mater 1956)

In 1932, biology professor Burt Franklin Jenness wrote a seven stanza poem titled "Men O' Mines" that was published in that year's Flowsheet (p. 130). Band director Rayo Reyes set it to music and Katherine Owsley arranged the music for four-part choir. By 1934 the song was regularly performed at games, assemblies, and special functions. Copies were sent to civic clubs throughout El Paso for popularization by club song leaders.

In 1956, music graduate student J.Sande Morrison rewrote the song for choir. Its first two verses and chorus were adopted with some minor changes as the new alma mater for Texas Western College after approval by the Music Department, executive council of the student body, and alumni. Sometimes the chorus is played alone and called "Miner Victory."

1. Far beneath the crags of FranklinStand our Alma Mater's halls.Gleams afar her rock hewn campus,Dust brown walls against the hills.Gem of learning in a countryWhose own wealth of lore enthralls.Hail the light of Texas WesternAnd the mission she fulfills!CHORUS:Up! Men of mines, and hit the trail;The Texas spirit shall not fail;Miners fight for the right!For the orange and white!Tamp! Tamp! Tamp! Men of mines,Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Men of mines,Now clear the way, for it's today,That we must gain the victory.2. May the canyon walls above herEcho back her classic name,And the deeds of men who leave herStir the heights on which she stands.May the pangs of recollectionSet their memories aflame,Till they see again the beautyOf the vista she commands.

"Fight Song" (1980s)

In the early 1980s, band director Gene Lewis adapted Marty Robbins' country western classic "El Paso" (1959) to serve as UTEP's fight song. Subsequent arrangements were done by band directors Curtis Tredway and T. Andre Feagin, each with slight musical variations.

Out in the west of Texas town of El PasoHome of the river they call Rio GrandeDown on the border, the town of El PasoHome of the Miners the best in the land.Fighting to win the Miners of UTEPLong live the College of Mines!GO COLLEGE OF MINES!Loyal forever we’re standing togetherOnward to victory, orange and blue!WE WILL BE TRUE!Out in the west of Texas town of El PasoHome of the river they call Rio GrandeDown on the border, the town of El PasoHome of the Miners the best in the land.Hey!GO MINERS GOFIGHT MINERS FIGHTGO, FIGHT, WIN MINERS WIN

Other Songs

"The Engineer's Song" (1928)

Dean Beven (Class of 1929) compiled "The Engineer's Song" during the 1920s. Sung to the tune of "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech," the lengthy song contained lyrics such as these:

Here stands a mining engineer with rough and ready crew,There’s not a thing on this earth that he’s afraid to doIf you want a bridge to Jupiter or a ten foot shaft to HellJust ask a mining engineer and he will do it well.He’s a mining, mining, mining, mining, mining engineerLike every honest fellow he likes his whiskey clearHe dearly loves his whiskey, he dearly loves his beerHe’s a shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer.Here we have a mining man, in either hand a gunHe’s not afraid of anything and never known to runAnd with his belly empty, the damn food knows no fearHe’s a shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer.With dandruff in his whiskers and dirt behind his ears,With biscuits in his duffle bag that ain’t been touched in years.So, with his belly empty, the damn fool knows no fearHe’s a shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer.

"Dig Dig Dig for T.C.M." (1940)

In 1940, Fred Waring, Roy Ringwald, and Glen Moore wrote "Dig Dig Dig for T.C.M." The lyrics included six different choruses about the school's various rivals - Wildcats, Lumberjacks, Lobos, Cowboys, Sioux, Aggie:

Dig dig dig dig, dig dig dig dig dig! for T.C.M.Dig dig dig dig, dig dig dig dig dig! for T.C.M.March along to win, whatever the fight,March along to win for Orange and White.Oh, dig dig dig dig, dig dig dig dig dig! for T.C.M.[CHORUS 1]Let our rivals thru the pass at El Paso del Norte,Show ’em hospitality and show ‘em we are sporty,Kick ‘em in the end zone if they ever get cavorty,Fight ‘em MININ’ MEN OF T.C.M.

"We are the Miners" (2013)

In 2013, Mathematical Sciences Professor Larry Lesser honored UTEP's mission and upcoming Centennial year by penning new lyrics to the tune of Freddy Mercury's "We are the Champions" (a platinum hit for Queen).

1. With ‘Glory Road,’ or buildings of Bhutan,Our border campus draws deeply uponIts diverse people who learned to stand tall:We are a model of access and excellence for all!CHORUS:And we went on and on and on and on:We are the Miners, my friend,And we’ll keep on mining ways to win! We are the Miners, we are the Miners,No lame excuses, 'cause we are the Miners Of the world!2. Some called us crazy to try for Tier OneWhile serving our region, like it couldn’t be done.But talent knows no neighborhood bounds:Watch our students and faculty gain world renown!

Tradition

UTEP's Centennial Celebration aims to foster a deeper sense of pride and tradition. Ringtones based on several of the songs are being released throughout the celebration. At the annual Alumni PICK-nics, participants sing the fight song in groups. The Homecoming 2012 t-shirt featured the Fight Song lyrics on the back.

In 2011, the re-introduction by the Miner Marching Regiment of some of the older songs created confusion and stirred debate among current and former band members.